Potato-sorting machine



June 26, 1923. I H. A. NELSON POTATO SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 26, 1923.

H. A. NELSON POTATO SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 26, 1923.

PATENT OFFICE.

HJ'ALMER NELSON, 015 DETROIT, MINNESOTA.

POTATO-SORTING MACHINE.

Application filed January 2, 1923. Serial No. 610,138.

To all cuhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HJALMER A. TIELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the countyof Becker and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Sorting Machines; and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a sorting device, and particularly to such a device adapted to sort fruits, vegetables and similar articles, the device being particularly designed for the sorting of potatoes. It is desirable to sort fruit and vegetables, such as potatoes, to separate the vegetables below a certain size, from the remainder before such vegetables are marketed. comprises a machine of the type in which the articles to be sorted are carried on a traveling belt or apron which is provided with apertures and which is given an agitatmg or undulat ng movement.

It is an ob ect of this invention to provide such a machine comprising a traveling retic- I ulate and articulated belt or apron having positively driven means at its ends for projecting and moving the same.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such an apron also having positively driven means intermediate its ends to give likereference characters refer to the same parts throughout the difierent views, and in which v Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the device; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows; 1 i i Fig. 4 isa plan view showinga part of the a'pronor belt on an enlarged scale;

The present device F ig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 ing devices; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a frame having four uprights 1, one at each corner thereof suitably braced and held together by cross members 2 adjacent its bottom and supporting at their upper ends longitudinal side members or boards 3. A trough-like hopper 4 is provided at one end of the frame above the side members 3 and has a sloping bottom discharging downwardly between said side members. Extending between and journaled in the side members 3 is a plurality of shafts 5, the ends of which project some distance outside of one of the side members 3 and these shafts have secured thereto on said projecting ends sprocket wheels 6. An endless chain 7 extends about the sprocket wheels on the end shafts 5 and the top run of this chain engages with the sprocket wheels on the other shafts 5 intermediate the end shafts. Boilers 8 are journaled on stub shafts secured in the side member 3 and these rollers bear upon the top of the top run of the chain 7 and hold the same in engagement with the sprocket 6. Another roller '9 is journaled on a short shaft secured in a bearing 10 bolted to the bottom side of the side member 3 and this roller 9 bears upon the top of the lower run of the chain 7 and maintains said chain in properly tensioned condition. The end shaft 5 remote from the hopper 4 is provided on the end opposite that carrying the sprocket, with a crank 11 which is turned to drive said chain and thus positively turn all of said sprockets. The

shafts 5 have secured thereto at the inside of and closely adjacent each of the side members 3, agitating and propelling wheels 12' particularly shown-in Figs. 6 and 7, which wheels comprise a central hub and a plurality of radially extending arms which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, are three in number, which number, however, may be varied as desired.

Supported upon the wheels 12 and disposed between the side members 3 is a belt or apron member 13, which member is of reticulate and articulated formation. Said belt is, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, supported on the wheels 12 and will be driven by the rotation. of these wheels by the shafts 7 and apertures in the adjacent strip so as to be pivotally connected to said strip and said tongues are connected substantially in aline- 20' ment with the central axis of the openings or recesses 16. The rear edges of the apertures through which said tongues are connected are bent or folded rearwardly, as shown at 19 in Fig. 5 so as to form arounded surface for the connection of the bent end of the tongues 18. When the members 14 and 15 are thus connected it will readily be seen that the recesses 16 in one strip aline with the recesses 17 in the adjacent strip to form one opening through the belt or apron. It will also be seenthat there are a greater number of recesses 16 in the strips 14 than in the strips 15 and the strips 15 thus .l-ia-vea comparatively wide imperforate portion at their ends so that the end edges of all of the strips are substantially in .alinement and the apron thus has: substantially straight parallel sides. It will also be noted that the recesses 1'6 and 17 as illustrated, are made substantially-on the arcof a circle, the recesses 16 having their sides prolonged in parallel relation.

In operatiomthe articles or potatoes to be sorted are placed in the hopper 4 and pass downwardly onto the apron 13 which will be given motion by means of the crank 11. The apron willbe-positively pulled along by both the wheels 12 at its'ends andto more or less extentby the wheels 12 intermediate its ends.

At the same time, the belt will be given an agitated or undulating motion due to the spaced'arms of the wheels 12. It should be particularlynoted that all of the wheels 12 and shafts 5 are positively driven so that a i adhered tothe potatoes. This dirt will be removed as the potatoes roll about on the apron. Owing to the fact that the potatoes are moving on'substantially a fiat surface, the same will-not bebruised or marred. The

potatoes passing through the apron or belt 18 will be collected and directed to the desired point by any suitable means.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a simple and improved form of grader. By positively driving each of the wheels 12, a great strain is not placed upon such wheels at one end of the belt which has been a serious objection to graders of the prior art. Furthermore, a positive agitation and movement of the belt is insured as there is no chance for some of the wheels to stick and the belt to be pulled thereover. The apron 13 is preferably made of sheet material and the corners of the recesses will be suitably formed so that no injury can occur to the potatoes. The belt 13 and the entire machine is easily constructed, strong and durable and when once assembled will operate continuously with practically no attention necessary for maintenance or repairs.

It will, of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details and arrangement of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: a

1. A sorting machine having in combine intermediate the ends of said apron over which said apron travels and means for positively turning all of said agitating andv propelling members and said A supporting and agitating members. A

3. A sorting machine having in combination, a frame-comprising longitudinally extending side members, a perforated articu lated endless belt arranged to travel between said side members rotatable means at the ends and intermediate of said apron over which it travels for propelling and agitating the same and driving means for positively turning all of said rotatable means. A

.members, agitating and propelling members a at each end of said apron, a plurality of supporting and agitating members disposed 4. A-sorting machine'having-incombina- 2 connecting lated belt disposed to travel between said side members, a rotatable driving and agitating member at each end of said belt, agitating and supporting members intermediate the ends of said belt, shafts carrying said members and projecting at one side of said frame, sprockets on said shafts, a driving chain engaging all of said sprockets, and means for turning one of said shafts whereby all of said agitating members are positively rotated.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, and rotatable means between said sprockets bearing on the top run of said chain to hold the same in engagement with said sprockets.

6. The structure set forth in claim 4c, and spaced rollers between said sprockets hearing on the upper run of said chain to hold the same in engagement with said sprockets, and a roller bearing on the lower run of said chain to hold the same taut.

7. A reticulate articulated belt comprising strips of sheet material having recesses cut in the sides thereof forming narrow tongues therebetween, said tongues of one strip being pivotally connected at their ends to the adjacent strip substantially in line with the center of the said recesses therein.

8. A reticulate articulated belt comprising narrow members formed with spaces at each side in staggered relation, said members being arranged with the spaces on one side of one alined with the spaces on the other side of the other, and means pivotally said members between said spaces.

9. A perforated articulated apron formed of strips of sheet material having open sided recesses cut in one side thereof, said recesses forming narrow tongues therebetween, said strips having open sided recesses cut in the other sides thereof in stagpered relation with said first mentioned recesses, the tongues of one strip being pivotally connected to the adjacent strip substantially in line with the center of said first mentioned recesses, whereby the recesses in one side of one strip aline with the recesses in the other side of the adjacent strip to form an opening through the belt. 10. A reticulate articulated belt compriswith open sided recesses at each side thereof in staggered relation, said strips being arranged with the recesses on one side of one alined with the recesses on the other side of the other, and means pivo-tally connecting said strips between said recesses.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10, the end edges of said strips being arranged substantially in alinement.

12. The structure set forth in claim 10, the ends of alternate strips having a comparatively wide imperforate portion whereby the end edges of said strips are substantially in alinement.

13. A sorting machine having in combination, a frame comprising longitudinally extending side members, a perforated articulatedendless belt arranged to travel between said side members, rotatable means at the ends and intermediate the ends of said apron over which it travels and for propelling and agitating the same, said means having portions extending beyond one of said side members, and means for positively turning said portions to rotate said first mentioned means.

1%. A sorting machine having in combination, a frame comprising longitudinally extending side members, a perforated articulate endless belt arranged to travel between said side members, rotatable means ing narrow strips of sheet material formed l at the ends and intermediate the ends of said apron comprising wheels having angularly spaced arms over which the apron travels and which are adapted to propel and agitate said apron, shafts carrying said wheels and projecting outside of one of said side members, sprockets on said shafts, and a common chain engaging and driving said sprockets and rotatable means whereby the latter are positively driven.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HJALMER A. NELSON. 

